Africa’s fast-growing demand for digital services could become a catalyst for modernizing the continent’s power sector, according to NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC).
In an opinion piece, Ayuk highlighted that while Africa still struggles with limited electricity access, digital technology is expanding rapidly, with mobile and internet penetration on the rise. “Every one of those phones that loads a search engine, a shopping site, or a business app these days is adding to that computing load, and that’s just the mobile sector,” he noted, stressing the energy-intensive nature of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Ayuk explained that Africa currently hosts only 223 data centers across 38 countries, less than 0.02% of the global total, with most concentrated in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. As businesses and consumers demand faster, lower-latency computing, the need for local data centers is becoming urgent.
The African data center market, valued at USD 3.49 billion in 2024, is expected to nearly double to USD 6.81 billion by 2030, growing at an 11.79% annual rate. However, many facilities are constrained by unreliable grids, forcing operators to rely on costly diesel generators. Ayuk noted that Nigeria’s 17 data centers, for example, require around 137 MW of power but face frequent outages, limiting efficiency and raising costs.
According to Ayuk, the growth of data centers could also attract socially responsible investment into Africa’s power infrastructure, improving both reliability and sustainability. “The growth of data centers also often brings with it a push for innovative power solutions, including the integration of renewable energy sources and advanced grid management technologies,” he said.
Several African countries are already leveraging renewable energy to power data hubs. Kenya’s Naivasha geothermal zone will host a 100 MW green data center supported by a USD 1 billion investment from Microsoft and G42, while South Africa integrates solar projects in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Gabon are also expanding renewable capacity to meet digital demand.
Ayuk concluded that investing in local data centers could address broader development goals, from infrastructure improvement to economic growth and national security.
With strategic planning, Africa’s energy challenges could be transformed into opportunities, he argued, making data centers a key driver of the continent’s digital and power future.
